Suffolk Trading Standards is reiterating calls for consumers to only buy products from reputable sources, after seizing hundreds of unsafe leaf blowers and glue guns at the Port of Felixstowe.
One of the leaf blowers seized (image credit: Suffolk Trading Standards)
The battery-powered leaf blowers, which had been imported from China and were destined for sale to UK consumers via a third-party seller on Amazon, were found to pose a fire risk when inspected. Problems identified included poor quality soldering, crushed wires and batteries which failed safety tests.
The manuals which accompanied the devices were also found to contain errors, and failed to include the importer’s name and address – a legal requirement.
The 300 devices will now be destroyed.
In a statement, Suffolk Trading Standards urged people to “only buy products from a reputable retailer”.
“The manual states the product can function as a grinder, sander, wire brush, polisher, hole cutter or cut-off tool, none of which relate to the product imported,” they added.
“If buying on an online marketplace such as Amazon or eBay, make sure you check the details of the seller and that they have a UK address.
Glue guns were also found to pose safety risks (image credit: Suffolk Trading Standards)
“Check the reviews for the product to see what others have said, and remember if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
The Suffolk Trading Standards imports team also recently seized 300 dangerous glue guns which were likewise headed for sale to UK consumers via online marketplaces.
When tested, they were found to have poor soldering and potentially unsafe wire routing which could cause electric shocks. Like the leaf blowers, they also failed to include details of the importer, as well as legally required safety warnings.
